5 Best HBO Max Shows to Watch if You Loved Game of Thrones

5 Best HBO Max Shows For Game Of Thrones Fans Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) looking awestruck in Game of Thrones

By Liz Hersey Published 3 minutes ago Liz Hersey is an Editor for ScreenRant's Classic TV team, editing, writing, and creating content about the iconic shows you love to rewatch. She began her editing career at ScreenRant in 2019, shortly after joining the site as a Writer that same year. With a passion for all things books, Liz frequently attends Toronto literary events and conferences, and loves interacting with her book lover community. In addition to being an avid reader of the romance and thriller genres, Liz is a writer of several short stories, and is currently at work on a young adult witch novel. When she's not working, reading, or writing, Liz can be found seeing movies at her local cinema, attending live jazz events, or curling up on the couch to binge her favorite TV shows. You can reach her at [email protected]. Sign in to your ScreenRant account Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap

For Game of Thrones fans looking to fill the void left by the beloved fantasy series, there are plenty of great HBO Max shows to tune into. Though Game of Thrones' ending was universally panned, and season 8 a crashing disappointment as a whole, there's no denying that in its prime, the hit HBO show was sensational. It changed not only the TV fantasy genre, but television as a whole.

Of course, George R.R. Martin's TV universe is far from over, with Targaryen prequel spinoff House of the Dragon renewed for season 3 and Martin recently revealing that there's a Game of Thrones "sequel or two" in the works. But until those series release, HBO Max has other spectacular programming that features similar themes, battle scenes, scheming, and fantasy as Game of Thrones.

His Dark Materials

2019-2022, 3 Seasons

James McAvoy as Lord Asriel and Ruth Wilson as Mrs. Coulter in His Dark Materials

HBO's only fantasy show to match Game of Thrones in terms of scale, worldbuilding, and visuals, His Dark Materials is a must-watch for any fantasy fan. Also like Game of Thrones, His Dark Materials is based on an incredibly popular fantasy novel series, the titular trilogy by Philip Pullman.

While Game of Thrones sees a sprawling ensemble of characters traversing Westeros as the battle for the Iron Throne rages on, His Dark Materials is centered on a young orphan girl named Lyra Belacqua. Lyra travels across multiple dimensions searching for her missing friend, discovering a nefarious kidnapping plot along the way.

A major point of contention with Game of Thrones is that the show fell off when it caught up to Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire novels and had to start concocting its own original storylines. At a taut three seasons, this isn't a problem with His Dark Materials.

Moreover, the fandom found His Dark Materials' ending immensely satisfying, with some even arguing it's the superior fantasy show to Game of Thrones.

Succession

2018-2023, 4 Seasons

Kendall Roy (Jeremy Strong) on the phone in Succession season 1 Whose Side Are You On episode

If Game of Thrones' schemers and backstabbers are your favorite characters, Succession absolutely must be your next HBO Max watch. It's essentially Game of Thrones in a corporate boardroom, as it sees a trio of billionaire siblings vying for control of their aging father's multimedia empire, Waystar Royco.

Succession is definitely missing Game of Thrones' violence and bloodshed, but in terms of scream-at-your-TV plot twists and disturbing scenes that depict the absolute worst of humanity, it's right up there with George R.R. Martin's epic show. Kendall Roy's "but" in the last moments of the season 2 finale is arguably just as shocking as the Red Wedding.

When Game of Thrones was on the air, it was considered the height of prestige TV, winning a slew of Emmys. Succession is every bit the same; it was an awards darling and is arguably the last truly spectacular drama series in TV's overstuffed streaming landscape.

The Wire

2002-2008, 5 Seasons

Omar walking through prison in The Wire

Though it predates the streaming era, The Wire is frequently touted as one of the best TV shows of all time that you need to watch. In its prime, Game of Thrones attracted a slew of non-fantasy fans thanks to its must-watch status, and The Wire does the same with the crime drama genre.

At first blush, it may not seem like a show about the drug trade in Baltimore would appeal to audiences who loyally immersed themselves in Westeros for eight seasons. However, David Simon's acclaimed series shows how vying for control of an empire is all-consuming and lethal every bit as much as Game of Thrones.

Just as Game of Thrones follows a diverse array of characters, each of The Wire's five seasons focuses on a different Baltimore institution and its relationship to crime and drugs. In the world of Simon's series, Baltimore is every bit as dangerous as Westeros. Game of Thrones fans know not to get too attached to any particular character, and similarly, The Wire has plenty of tragic deaths.

Carnivàle

2003-2005, 2 Seasons

Carnivàle was HBO's first fantasy show, and it's tragic how much it flew under the radar. Following a traveling supernatural carnival in America's Dust Bowl during the Great Depression, Carnivàle is every bit as visually appealing as Game of Thrones, with its real-life setting adding a little something extra for history fans.

Sadly, Carnivàle was ahead of its time in terms of its scope and ambition as a fantasy series. As it didn't pull in the viewership numbers needed to justify its high production cost, Carnivàle was canceled after only two seasons.

It's ironic that if Carnivàle had premiered after Game of Thrones, it may have had a shot to do well, with the latter series opening up TV audiences' minds to the fantasy genre. Though that unfortunately isn't the case, there's a lot in Carnivàle for Game of Thrones fans to latch onto.

Band Of Brothers

2001, 1 Season

Two_soldiers_crouch_down_in_the_mud_in_Band_of_Brothers

While Game of Thrones popularized TV fantasy series, Band of Brothers gave the miniseries an instant credibility boost when it was released on HBO in 2001. Nowadays, miniseries are often the best TV you'll find, as they attract top-tier, A-list talent who don't necessarily want to commit to filming multiple seasons and tons of episodes.

Created by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, Band of Brothers knocked audiences sideways with how phenomenal it was. A war epic like nothing seen on TV before or since, the HBO limited series centers on the experiences of the United States Army's "Easy Company" in World War 2, depicting their participation in major historical events from D-Day to the Battle of the Bulge.

Game of Thrones is renowned for its epic battle scenes, and those who especially enjoyed these sequences in the fantasy show will be awestruck by Band of Brothers. It's hard to think of a more talented cast than Game of Thrones', but Band of Brothers' certainly comes close.

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Game Of Thrones

10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Like Follow Followed TV-MA Drama Action Adventure Fantasy Release Date 2011 - 2019-00-00 Showrunner David Benioff, D.B. Weiss Directors David Nutter, Alan Taylor, D.B. Weiss, David Benioff Writers D.B. Weiss, George R.R. Martin, David Benioff Franchise(s) Game of Thrones

10 Images

Samwell Tarly And Jon Snow In Game Of Thrones Season 1

Lena Headey as Cersei in Game of Thrones

Tyrion Finds Jaime And Cersei in the wreckage of King's Landing in Game of Thrones season 8

Daenerys attacks King's Landing in Game of Thrones

Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen standing in the snow in Game of Thrones Richard Madden as Robb Stark in Game of Thrones season 3, episode 9

Ned Stark in Game of Thrones season 1 Pedro Pascal in Game of Thrones

Peter Dinklage Looking Disheveled As Tyrion Lannister In Game Of Thrones Season 8

Daenerys Targaryen In Game Of ThronesClose

Cast

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Kit Harington Jon Snow
Isaac Hempstead Wright Brandon Bran Stark

Genres Drama, Action, Adventure, Fantasy Creator(s) David Benioff, D.B. Weiss Powered by

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